Beacon Apr 2024

April 2024 THE BEACON Page 13A
By
Jeff
Hermesch
Purdue
Extension
jhermesch@purdue.edu
M
DEAR
ARIE
4 VILLAGE RD
BATESVILLE, IN 47006
812-934-4626
By
Marie
Segale
marie@goBEACONnews.com
Dear Marie,
I have made some big
financial mistakes in my life.
When one of my kids comes
to me saying, “Mom I need
help,” “I need money for this
or that,” or whatever it is, I
usually give in to the request.
When the request is to be a
co-signer or to make a loan
for a large amount, I would
have been wise to consider
how the loan would be paid
back. Did I consider the odds
of whether I would get the
money back? Well, yes, I did.
Sadly my good intentions did
not guarantee that the money
would be returned. I did not
put enough thought into the
consequences of my decisions.
I wonder which one of
my kids will be there to take
care of me when I am old
and perhaps running low on
money. I would like to believe
all of my kids would chip in if
Garden Seed Starting
Spring is finally here! Many
of our readers are looking
forward to getting out in their
established gardens, while
others are exploring the idea
of having a garden for the
first time. Regardless if you
are experienced or a newbie,
seed starting is a great way to
kick off the gardening season.
Several advantages of starting
seeds indoors include
better germination rates, less
competition from other plants,
and fewer insect and disease
problems.
To get started, gather your
desired seed, containers to
start them in, some growing
media, water, and light.
Growing media should be a
seed-starting mix comprised
of peat moss, perlite, coconut
coir, and vermiculite. This
seed-starting mix is sterile and
provides a light, fine-textured
media that is ideal for seedstarting.
Garden soil is not
recommended since it contains
weed seeds and diseases.
It also tends to be very dense
which causes poor drainage.
A variety of containers can
be used including plastic pots,
peat pots, eggshells, toilet paper
tubes, egg cartons, or cell flats.
Ensure that the container can
hold the media while still allowing
moisture to drain away.
Lighting is important.
Fluorescent grow lights are
often preferred, but regular
fluorescent bulbs, desk lamps,
and even windowsills will
work. Windowsills should
have good southern exposure,
although additional lighting
may be needed.
Seed packages provide
directions that cover when the
seeds should be sown/planted
and how deep to plant. As
always, please follow the directions
on the seed packages
for best results.
The steps to start plants
from seed include:
1. Pre-moisten your media
by mixing it with enough
water so it holds its shape
when you grab a handful but
isn’t dripping water. Fill your
container with the wet seedstarting
media. Make sure that
the media is settled, and that
the container does not have
large air pockets inside.
2. Make an indentation in
the media to the recommended
depth. Place 2-3 seeds
inside this indentation and
I were destitute…maybe.
Marie, can you give me advice
on how to say no to my
kids’ financial requests?
Audrey in Lawrenceburg
cover with the recommended
amount of media. Press the
media down to ensure good
contact with the seeds.
3. Gently mist the media
with water.
4. The container can be covered
with plastic to help retain
moisture and warmth. Remove
the plastic to spray the
container if the media dries
out. If left uncovered, the
media will need to be watered
more often. Once the seeds
begin to germinate, remove
the plastic cover.
5. If you are starting seeds
in a cool area, a heat mat that
is made for starting seeds is
helpful for proper germination
and disease prevention.
As seedlings grow, keep
the lights three inches above
the tallest plants and provide
twelve to sixteen hours of
light per day. Water the growing
media as needed, making
sure it stays moist. A weak
fertilizer can be used with water
once the seedlings produce
their first true leaves.
By the end of March, starting
warm-season plants such
as tomatoes and peppers is
ideal. Unfortunately, the time
has passed to start cool-season
plants such as broccoli, cauliflower,
and cabbage.
If you have questions,
please contact me at 812-926-
1189. by email at
jhermesch@purdue.edu.
Dear Audrey,
Your question is considered
the “Great Predicament.” As
moms, we tend to do whatever
we can to help our children,
sometimes to our detriment.
Lending and/or co-signing for
a loan is a big ask.
Making a loan to someone is
a huge risk, but some safeguards
can be taken. I suggest
that you draw up a document
that details the terms of
repayment to ensure that you
are repaid. A simple loan list
shows the amount to be paid
each month, the accrued interest,
and the payment due date.
You also should establish the
repercussions when the payment
is not made on time. As
any other creditor would, you
should have a late fee. If the
loan is for the purchase of an
item of value, you can sell the
asset if repayment is not made.
Parenting is hard work.
Take the opportunity to teach
your children the value of a
dollar no matter what age they
are. They must comprehend
the seriousness of borrowing
money from you or a bank.
When you lend money to
anyone, keep in mind that you
should not lend more than you
can afford to lose!
Do you have a pressing issue?
Contact Marie@go
BEACONnews.com.
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